Sewing machine and means for automatically producing recurring operations



' April 25, 1950 ROSEMAN A 2,505,579

L. SEWING MACHINE AND MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING RECURRING OPERATIONS Filed Aug. 20, 1947 a JNVENTOR.

BY W I Woman Patented Apr. 25, 1950 SEWING MACHINE AND-,MEANS FOR AUTO- MATICALLY raonucmo RECURRING or- ERATIONS Leo Roseman, Newark, N. J. Application August 20, 1947, Serial No. 769,596

This invention relates particularly to sewing machines and methods of the general type wherein special operations such as offsetting certain stitches or groups of stitches relatively to the main line of stitches or forming groups of stitches at spaced points along the main line, either by lateral movement of the needle bar 01' of the work, or actuation of some other device,

are performed at predetermined intervals, all

during and in timed relation to the stitching operation.

Known machines of this character include a cam driven by the needle actuating shaft for initiating or controlling said special operations, but said cam is driven continuously by said shaft in repeated cycles during each of which the same operations or sequence of operations is performed. Such a machine is definitely limited by the size of the practical cam and by the continuous rotation thereof in the number, character and relativity of the operations to be performed.

Therefore, a prime object of my invention is to provide a method and a sewing machine of the general character described, wherein the initiation or controlling of the operation of a cam is effected in a novel and improved manner so that the method and machine shall be capable of performing special operations with greater variation in relation to each other, than has been possible heretofore.

Another object is to provide such a machine which shall include a novel and improved combination of an actuating cam mechanism for initiating or performing a special operation, a needle-actuating shaft, and means for automatically starting and stopping said cam mechanism in timed relation to rotation of said needle-actuating shaft.

Further objects are to provide a machine of this character wherein there is a needle-actuating shaft continuously rotated during a sewing operation, a countershaft continuously driven thereby, and a novel and improved combination of a cam mechanism for initiating or performing a special operation, and means for automatically connecting and disconnecting said actuating cam mechanism from said countershaft in timed relation to the stitching operation, whereby said cam mechanism shall be capable of movement relatively to said needle-actuating shaft, and a large number of operations of said cam and wide variations in the relationship thereof can be controlled by the last-named means.

Other objects are to provide such a machine wherein the last-named means shall comprise a clutch between said countershaft and said actuating cam mechanism and an activating or control cam continuously driven by said countershaft in timed relation to operation of said needle-acturating shaft for controlling said clutch, whereby 6 Claims. (Cl. 112-160) the character of the special operation shall be determined by said actuating cam mechanism while the number and relationship of said operations shall be controlled by said control cam.

Other objects, advantages and results will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is' a schematic perspective view of a sewing machine embodying my invention showing the clutch engaged;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional 'view, taken approximately on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the clutch disengaged;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View, approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view, approximately on the plane of the line 5- of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2, but showing the clutch engaged;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of =the actuating nose of the clutch lever;

:duced in accordance with the invention. 30

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the machine includes the usual needle l carried by the needle bar 2 which is reciprocably mounted in the usual bearing 3 and recipl'ocable by the usual crank disk through a pitman connection or link 4 by a crank disk 5 which is mounted on androtated by the needleactuating shaft 6 that is journaled as usual in the frame or gooseneck of the sewing machine and is driven from any suitable source of power. The threads, bobbins and work feed constitute no part of my invention and therefore have been omitted from the drawings, although it Will be understood that in performing stitching operations, the work, such as a hook or eye fastener tape 1, will be moved longitudinally by suitable feed mechanism beneath the needle I as the latter reciprocates and the needle will cooperate with the other mechanism to form a line of stitches generallydesignated A.

the stitches serving the purpose of connecting a cover strip I l of fabric to a base strip I2 with the main lineof stitches running alo'ng the inner edge of the cover strip and with the offset stitches passing through only the main strip to form gaps for insertion of fastener elements between the main strip and the cover strip; Any suitable means may be utilized for laterally moving the work or strip 1, but I have shown a guide tube It" through which the tape is pulled by the feeding mechanism beneath the needle I which passes through openings 14 in the upper and'iowerwails' of the guide tube to form the stitches. The guide tube I3 is moved by an actuating cam=mech anisrn which includes a cam l5 mounted onand to rotate with a cam shaft [6 and' cooperating with a follower lever H which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a fixed support, as indicated at [8, and has one end following the pe riphery of the cam and its other end abutting an arm ls'that is secured to and projects from one side of the guide tube I3. A tension spring 20 normally actuates the guide tube l3 into its normal position for producing the main line of stitches A and the cam 15 actuates the tube in-the other direction to form the offset stitches B.

No attempt has been made to accurately delineate the contour of the cam [5, but in general each group of stitches B is formed during one revolution of the cam I5, the stitches a (see Figure 8) being formed while: the follower lever isin 7 contact with opposite ends of the dwell b of the cam, the stitches 0 being formed while the work is moving longitudinally and the cam surfaces 01 are passing beneath the follower lever,. respectively, and the stitches e being formed while the follower lever is in contact with the dwell of the cam.

The stitch g is formed in the interval while the ,7

number and relationship of said groups of stitches or special operations are determined by a control or activating cam 2| which is shown as mounted to rotate on a stub shaft 22 and has a peripheral gear 23 driven by a: pinion 24- on a countershaft 25 which is driven by a worm and worm wheel gear 26 from the needle-actuating shaft i3, so that said countershaft 25 rotatescontinuously with and in timed relation to the needle-actuating shaft during stitching operations. On the countershaft 25-is a gear 2! which meshes with a clutch gear 28' that is freely rotatable on the cam shaft l5 and has-a plurality of openings 29 to receive a clutch pin- 30 which is slidably mounted in a clutch disk 3| that is keyed at 32 on the cam shaft". The clutch pin 30' is carried by a block 33 and is normally influenced by a spring 34 so as to enter any of the holes 29 which come into register with the pin, and: the clutch pin is normally held out of engagement-with the .clutchgear 28 by a clutch-rod 35 that is slidably mounted in a fixed-supportse and has a beveled .nose 37' to be engaged by theblock 33 when said- :n'oseis projected into the path of rotation of said block, as best shown in Figures=2-,-3 and 4; When the clutch pin 33- is withdrawn from engagement with the clutch gear, as shown in thesefigure'ssits rotationis stopped by engagement of a stop lug .38 on the clutch disk with the nose 3:1 of the clutchrod; as shownin Figure 4" H Whenthe clutchjrod 35 is-withdraw-n from--engagement with the block 33, the clutch pin 30 is projected into the first hole 29 in the clutch gear that comes into register with thepin, as best shown in- Figure 5; and when the pin and clutch gear are so engaged, the clutch shaft I6 is driven through the clutch gear from the gear 21 on the countershaft 25.

The engagement and disengagement of the clutch pin and clutch gear, and consequently the starting and stopping of the cam I 5, is controlled automatically by the activating cam 2!. For the purpose of performing the special operation here involved, this cam is shown as having two cam projections 39, spaced apart corresponding to the relationship of the group B of stitches. These cam projections cooperate with one end of a follower lever 421 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a fixed support, as indicated at 4|, and has an electrical contact element 42 at its other end to cooperate with another contact element 53 for controlling a circuit from a source of electricity to an electromagnet 44 which includes a coil or winding, an armature, one end of which is pivotally connected at 45 to one end of a lever 46 that is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a fixed support, as at 4?, and has its other end pivotally connected at 48 to the clutch rod 35, whereby when the coil of the magnet is energized, the armature will move in the direction ofthe arrow in Figure 1 to actuate the lever 46 and withdraw the clutch rod from the path of movement'of the clutch pin block 33, asshown in Figure 5. A spring 49 normally holds the clutch rod in the path of movement of said clutch pin block, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4,

The switch lever is normally actuated by a spring 5% to hold one end in the path of move ment of the cam projections 39 and to hold the contact elements 42 and 43 out of contact with each other. As the actuating cam 2| is rotated in the direction ofthe arrow on Figure L the cam projections 39 are successively brought into en'- gagement with the switch lever 40.

In operation of the machine and assuming that the formation of the main line of stitches C is being started, the clutch will be disengaged and the cam [5 will be at rest, although the clutch gear 28 and the actuating cam 2| will be continuously driven from the countershaft 25. In this form of the invention, thirty-seven stitches will be formed in the main line C, and the ratio of the gearing is such that after these thirtyseven stitches have been completed, the first cam projection 33 on the activating camwill engage the clutch lever soas to close the circuit through the electromagnet- 44, withdraw the clutch rod 35 andpermit engagement of the clutch pin 30 with the'clutch gear 28 so as-to'start rotation of'the actuating cam l5; Thereupon,

the first group 9 of stitches will be formed, the earn rotating in timed relation to the needleactuating shaft S but relatively thereto. Immediately upon release of the switch lever Mlby the first cam projection, the electromagnet is dc energized andthe clutch rod returns to its nor- 7 5 B of'stitches' will be formed 'as above described.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that any desired number of cam projections 39 may be utilized on the activating cam and the shape of the cam I5 may also be varied in accordance with the operation to be performed. The number of holes 29 in the clutch gear 28 can be varied in accordance with the number of stitches in the special operations e. g. the groups of stitches B. As shown, the speed ratio between the needle-actuating shaft 6 and the cam shaft i6 is six to one, and consequently there are six holes 29, and the cam l5 has been so shaped as to form the six stitches of each group 9 during one revolution of the cam. The ratio of the needle-actuating shaft to the activating cam 2| is fifty to one, while the speed ratio of said activating cam to the countershaft 25 is twenty-five to one, and the speed ratio of the countershaft 25 to the cam shaft [6 is three to one. Obviously, therefore, in the present instance, the needleactuating shaft will make fifty revolutions to produce fifty stitches, as shown in Figure 8, while the activating cam 2| is making one revolution.

The invention may be embodied in other types of machines and in other details of construction than those shown, within the spirit and scope of the invention; and the cam 15 can be adapted to perform other special operations, for example, to oscillate the needle bar so as to form zigzag or tack stitches.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A sewing machine including a needle-actuating shaft, cam-operated mechanism for performing a certain operation, a rotary element revoluble continuously during and in timed relation to the operation of said needle-actuating shaft, a rotatable device for making and breaking a driving connection between said rotary element and said cam-operated mechanism, and means controlling operation of said device and including a part operable continuously during and in timed relation to the operation of said needle-actuating shaft to make and break in succession said driving connection between said rotary element and said cam-operated mechanism.

2. A sewing machine including a needle-actuating shaft, cam-operated mechanism for performing a certain operation, a rotary element revoluble continuously during and in timed relation to the operation of said needle-actuating shaft, a rotatable device for making and breaking a driving connection between said rotary element and said cam-operated mechanism, means to cause actuation of said rotatable device to make and break said driving connection between said rotary element and said cam-operated mechanism, and an activating cam controlling actuation of said means and rotatable continuously during and in timed relation to the operation of said needle-actuating shaft for making and breaking said driving connection at predetermined times in timed relation to the operation of said needle-actuating shaft.

3. A sewing machine including a needle-actuating shaft, cam-operated mechanism for performing a certain operation, a rotary element revoluble continuously during and in timed relation to the operation of said needle-actuating shaft, a rotatable device for making and breaking a driving connection between said rotary element and said cam-operated mechanism,

means to cause actuation of said rotatable device to make and break said driving connection between said rotary element and said cam-operated mechanism, and an activating cam controlling 5 actuation of said means and rotatable continuously during and in timed relation to the operation of said needle-actuating shaft for making said driving connection at a predetermined time in timed relation to the operation of said needle- 10 actuating shaft and for breaking said driving connection after one revolution of said rotatable device.

4. A sewing machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said rotary element has at least one opening, said rotatable device has a pin to removably enter said opening to connect said rotary element to said rotatable device, said means to cause actuation of said rotatable device includes a clutch rod to cause actuation of said pin to make and break said driving connection, an lec tromagnetically operated mechanism to actuate said clutch rod and a switch for controlling said mechanism, and said activating cam has cam surfaces to actuate said switch.

5. A sewing machine including a needle-actuating shaft and wherein one stitch is made during each revolution of said shaft, a countershaft driven by said needle-actuating shaft continuously during operation thereof, a cam shaft, a rotatable activating cam driven by said countershaft continuously during operation of the latter, means for connecting and disconnecting said cam shaft respectively to and from said counter shaft, means controlled by said activating cam for actuating said means to automatically connect said cam shaft to said countershaft for continuous rotation of the former by the latter and for automaticall disconnecting said cam shaft from said countershaft after one revolution of said cam shaft, an actuating cam on said cam shaft, and means actuated by said actuating cam for varying said stitching operation.

6. A sewing machine including a need1e-actuating shaft, a countershaft driven by said needleactuating shaft continuously during operation thereof, a cam shaft, a clutch mechanism for operatively connecting and disconnecting said cam shaft to and from said countershaft including a freely rotatable element driven by said countershaft, a clutch plate rotatable with said cam shaft, a device for connecting and disconnecting said rotatable element to and from said clutch plate, an activating cam driven by the countershaft continuously during rotation thereof at a predetermined ratio with the operation of said needle-actuating shaft and said rotatable element for automatically actuating said device to disconnect said clutch plate from said rotatable element after one revolution of said cam shaft, an actuating cam on and movable with said cam shaft, and means actuated by said cam for performing a certain operation.

LEO ROSEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,267,595 Rogers May 28, 1918 1,611,372 Rader Dec. 21, 1926 

